Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Look For Longest Winnning Streak Of Season Against Northern Illinois
January 30, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2009
Game #20
Bowling Green (10-9, 3-3 MAC East) vs. Northern Illinois (6-12, 2-4 MAC West)
Jan. 31, 2009 • DeKalb, Ill. (Convocation Center) • 5:00 p.m. ET
Radio: Falcon Radio Network • Todd Walker
Television: None
SETTING THE STAGE
• The Bowling Green men's basketball team is looking to extend its winning streak to three games with a road trip to DeKalb, Ill. to face Northern Illinois. The Falcons have had a two-game winning streak on three other occasions this year but have been unable to win three in a row yet this year.
• The contest marks the 50th time the two programs have met and Northern Illinois holds a slim 25-24 advantage in the series. BG has lost the last two meetings at the Convocation Center, last winning by a 69-52 score Feb. 18, 2004.
• This is the second of six games against MAC West opponents and the Falcons' next five opponents are all five games below .500 or worse. Bowling Green is only 1-7 on the road this year but won its last road game, a 52-51 victory in front of 10,988 fans at Ohio University. Northern Illinois is 4-3 at home.
THE OPENING TIP (STORYLINES)
• Bowling Green's defensive intensity has stepped up in the last two games. The Falcons have allowed just 54.5 points per game in the wins, keeping Ohio and Ball State to a combined 35 percent shooting.
• Prior to the win over Ohio, the Falcons had struggled in the second halves of conference games. But Bowling Green outscored the Bobcats in the second half and then shot 56 percent in the second half against Ball State. The win over Ohio was BGSU's first road win of the season and the win over Ball State snapped a two-game home losing streak.
• Junior center Otis Polk had arguably his best game of the year in the win over Ball State. He made all five of his shot attempts, finishing with a season-high 13 points to go with six rebounds. He also had one blocked shot to move into a tie for third in career blocks in BGSU history.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
• Northern Illinois is just 3-9 in its last 12 games but all three wins have come in the Convocation Center. The Huskies are 5-2 when they score 70 points or more and like to shoot three-pointers, connecting on 35 percent this year. But BG will also need to find a way to match-up against 6-11 center Sean Kowal, who is averaging 10.5 points per game and shooting 58 percent from the field.
• While Northern Illinois is a solid offensive team in the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies have struggled defensively this year. The team ranks 11th in the MAC in scoring defense and three-point percentage defense, while ranking dead last in field goal percentage defense. One area that the Huskies have struggled offensively is in free-throw shooting. Their 58.4 conversion percentage is last in the conference and they are shooting only 52 percent in conference games.
• Darion Anderson and Mike DiNunno are the second highest scoring pair in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 28.9 points per game combined. Anderson ranks fourth in the MAC at 16.3 points per game. Sean Smith is a deadly shooter, making 16-of-32 three-pointers.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
• Bowling Green's home contest against Kent State has been moved up to a 6:30 p.m. start to accomodate an Fox Sports Ohio television broadcast of the game.
• Bowling Green's game at Akron on March 1 is now scheduled for a 12 p.m. start time for a Fox Sports Ohio television broadcast.
MILLER'S PUSH FOR 1,000
As Nate Miller gets closer to 1,000 career points, he has increased his scoring average. He has scored seven or more points in nine straight games (six of which he was coming off the bench) and went over 900 against Ball State (now at 904). His 15-point effort against Ohio was the 50th double-digit scoring game of his Bowling Green career. At his current pace, he would become the 37th player in BG history to reach 1,000 career points when the Falcons play at Akron on Fox Sports Ohio March 1.
TRACKING FALCON MILESTONES
A number of BGSU players are closing in on career milestones or have recently reached them:
• Darryl Clements scored 11 points against Akron to reach 500 for his career and had eight rebounds against Ohio to get to 250. He needs seven more assists to get to 200. When he gets to that total, he will be the first player to reach each of those milestones since Steven Wright (2003-06).
• Joe Jakubowski needs three more points for 400 in his career and three more steals for 50.
• Chris Knight needs nine more rebounds for 300 in his career.
• Erik Marschall needs four points for 500 in his career.
• Nate Miller went over 900 career points in the team's win over Ball State (now at 904). He needs to average 8.7 points during the rest of the regular season to become the 37th player in program history to score 1,000.
• Brian Moten moved into a tie for 10th place in career three-pointers made when he knocked one down against Ohio. He is also just one three-pointer away from becoming just the 10th Falcon to make 100 for a career. With his action against Ohio, he played in his 100th career game, becoming the first player to reach that total since Matt Lefeld played in 105 games from 2003-07.
• Otis Polk moved into a tie for third place in career blocks at Bowling Green with his 107th against Ball State. He needs 10 more to tie BGSU's all-time record of 117.
DEEP THINKING
Bowling Green's depth has been critical to success in 2008-09 and the Falcons' bench has contributed in a big way this year. BGSU's bench has scored in double-figures in 17 consecutive games, scoring at least 40 points twice (in wins over Wayne State and Buffalo). The Falcons are averaging 24.4 points per game from their bench this year, compared to just 16.2 points per game for opponents. The Bowling Green bench has outscored its opponent in 14 consecutive games and 16-of-19 contests overall.
RISING STOCK
Bowling Green's returners worked hard in the offseason to develop their games. That work has paid off in three visible areas -- scoring, rebounding, and free-throw percentage. The Falcons are averaging 2.0 points per game more than a year ago and are shooting .696 from the free-throw line, as opposed to .633 in 2007-08. Finally, BG was outrebounded by 2.6 boards per game last year, but has flipped that stat and is now outrebounding opponents by 2.3 in 2008-09.
BLOCK PARTY, HOSTED BY OTIS
Junior Otis Polk blocked two shots against Duquesne to become just the fifth player in program history with 100 career blocked shots and moved into a tie for third place with his 107th block against Miami. He ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots this year and is just 10 behind all-time leader Tom Hall, with 117 from 1989-92. A year ago, he had four blocks in four different games, ending the season with 51, the second highest single-season total in Bowling Green history. Cornelius Cash set the mark with 59 blocks in 1973-74.
KNIGHT TIME
Sophomore forward Chris Knight has begun to show signs of the potential he flashed as a freshman in 2007-08. After missing the first three games of the 2008-09 season, Knight scored just 15 points over the next six games, averaging 2.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. But in the last ten contests, he has averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds, posting the only Falcon double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Eastern Illinois. He grabbed 14 rebounds against Fordham, five on the offensive glass, and scored 17 first-half points in BGSU's MAC opener against Buffalo, finishing with 22 points on the afternoon.
DEFENSE WINS
• Bowling Green has bucked down defensively in 2008-09, holding 15-of-19 opponents to less than 45 percent shooting, allowing less than 70 points 14 times. It is a critical stat because the Falcons are just 2-10 under head coach Louis Orr when an opponent shoots 45 percent or better. BG leads the MAC in field goal percentage defense and blocked shots.
• Bowling Green is on pace to post a historically significant season defensively. The Falcons' .395 field goal percentage defense allowed is the best total since the 1963-64 team held opponents to a .390 clip for the year. As well, the team's 63.1 points per game allowed is the best average since the 1962-63 team allowed 62.3 points per contest.
• Bowling Green's defensive prowess has not been more apparent than in the Falcons' win over Detroit. The Titans scored just 38 points, the lowest point total for a BGSU opponent since an 87-37 Bowling Green win over Western Ontario on Feb. 1, 1964. As well, the Titans shot just 22.7 percent from the field and had just two assists. Both of those stats were the lowest BG opponent totals since game-by-game boxscores have been archived (1987-88 season).
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
While Bowling Green has excelled in the first half of most of its contests this year, the Falcons have struggled at times in the second half. BGSU has been ahead or tied at the break in five of its losses this year. Bowling Green is holding opponents to 36 percent shooting in the first half of games this year but opponents are shooting 43 percent in the second half.
Half Scoring Margin FG% FGA%
1st +5.2 244/555 (.440) 187/514 (.364)
2nd -2.9 210/518 (.405) 220/516 (.426)
LEADERS OF THE MAC
The Falcons lead the MAC in four team stats, posting the top field-goal percent defensive unit in the conference, allowing opponents to shoot just .395. The team also leads the MAC in blocked shots (4.4 per game), assists (13.9 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (1.06). Individually, Otis Polk leads the MAC with 2.89 offensive rebounds per contest. Joe Jakubowski's 2.11 assist/turnover ratio in conference games also leads the MAC.
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
Bowling Green trailed Ohio Saturday 36-35 with 10 minutes to play in the contest. It marked the first time in head coach Louis Orr's two-year tenure that BG came back from a deficit with 10 minutes to play to win a game. The team had lost 32 consecutive games when it trailed with 10 minutes left since coming back to beat Buffalo 74-73 Jan. 7, 2007.
MAKING THINGS INTERESTING
Bowling Green has split 10 games decided by seven points or less this year with numerous games coming down to the final few possessions. Three of the most exciting of those were a 77-76 overtime win over Georgia State, a 52-51 win on road in front of 10,988 fans over Ohio, and a 62-58 home win over Ball State. Darryl Clements and Brian Moten made three-pointers in the final 15 seconds of regulation to force overtime against Georgia State and Joe Jakubowski knocked down a 25-foot three-pointer as the buzzer sounded in the extra session for the win. Against Ohio, the Bobcats had three possessions in the final 15 seconds but missed three shots, including a blocked shot from Chris Knight with less than four seconds remaining. Clements scored the Falcons' final five points of that game, helping the team overcome a late 47-44 deficit. Knight came up with a critical block for the second game in a row against Ball State, swatting away a fastbreak lay-up late in a 62-58 win.
GOOD KNIGHT
Chris Knight was named MAC East Player of the Week twice in a three-week stretch earlier this season. Most recently he was awarded after he scored 17 first half points, and finished with 22 for the game, as Bowling Green opened up an early lead and held on for an 86-82 win over Buffalo in the team's MAC opener. Knight was also named MAC East Player of the Week Dec. 29 after averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in leading the Falcons to a pair of wins. He is the only BGSU player to be named conference player of the week this year and it is the third time in his career he has received the award. Knight received the honor a year ago after being named MVP of the Peggy Cronin Classic in Cincinnati.
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE (THAT ROARS)
Anderson Arena has always been a difficult place for opponents and the Falcons are 7-2 at home in 2008-09, beating teams by an average of 9.6 points per game. BG is off to its best start at home since the 2001-02 team went 13-1 in "The House That Roars". The Falcons are 444-178 (.714) all-time in Anderson Arena and 158-52 (.752) in the past 16 years.
WINNING EARLY
Bowling Green had six wins by the team the calendar turned to 2009. Since the 2002-03 season, the Falcons have won more games than that before the turn of the new year just once. The 2006-07 team had nine wins when Jan. 1 struck and last year's team had just five wins by that time.
HITTIN' THE BOOKS
Sophomore point guard Joe Jakubowski was named the Mid-American Conference's Male Scholar Athlete of the Week Dec. 18. He had 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the team's 58-38 win over Detroit and has maintained a 3.56 grade point average entering the fall semester. The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week is presented to a male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative gpa of 3.0 or better and performed well during the previous week's competition.
CLEMENTS' CAREER WEEKEND
Senior guard Darryl Clements was named to the NABC Classic All-Tournament team after setting his new career scoring high not just one time, but twice during the season's opening weekend. Clements made a crucial three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining in regulation that helped pushed the season opener against Georgia State to overtime -- a game the Falcons eventually won. He then scored a career-high 19 points in the team's loss to Minnesota, before pumping home 22 in BGSU's win over Concordia St. Paul. He also led Bowling Green in assists, steals and field goal percentage during the weekend.
MILLER TABBED TO SOAR
Bowling Green senior Nate Miller was selected to the Preseason All-Mid-American Conference Team, by vote of the MAC News Media Association, as well as the league's 12 head men's basketball coaches. Miller was joined on the East preseason team by Akron's Nate Linhart, Kent State's Al Fisher, Miami's Michael Bramos, and Ohio's Jerome Tillman. A transfer from UNC Wilmington, Miller has 904 points in his BG career.
CAN IT GET ANY TOUGHER?
Although Bowling Green went 7-6 in its first 13 non-conference games, the opponents that the Falcons faced will make them stronger in MAC play. BGSU's six non-conference losses have come against teams with a combined record of 80-39. Minnesota is ranked No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Illinois State is also ranked eighth in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll.
FRESH FACES
Head coach Louis Orr announced the signing of two players for the 2009-10 season during the early signing period. Luke Kraus, of Findlay, Ohio (Findlay HS), and Danny McElroy, of Cincinnati, Ohio (La Salle HS), will join the Falcons next year. Kraus is a two-time player of the year in the Greater Buckeye Conference and McElroy is a tenacious defender who averaged 14.2 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior. Those two will join transfers Darion Goins and Adrion Graves, both of which are sitting out the 2008-09 season due to transfer rules.
CATCH THE FALCONS
• Bowling Green's men's basketball games can be listened to through the Falcon Sports Radio Network with Todd Walker, the voice of the Falcons, handling the play-by-play duties. Former Bowling Green basketball player Kirk Cowan does the color commentary at all BGSU home games as well. All but three games can be heard on WFRO 99.1 FM and the others can be heard on WOHF 92.1 FM (Feb. 4 vs. Western Michigan, Feb. 11 at Toledo, and Feb. 18 at Buffalo). As well, all games can be heard on WCSM 1350 AM/96.7 FM in Celina, WONW 1280 AM in Defiance, and WCWA 1230 AM in Toledo.
• BGSU men's basketball coach Louis Orr appears on the Falcons' Nest Coaches Show on select Monday evenings, hosted by Todd Walker. The show runs from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and is scheduled for live broadcast from Fricker's in Bowling Green (1720 E. Wooster Street).
• All game broadcasts and the Falcons Nest Coaches Show can also be heard via live stream on the official site of Falcon athletics, www.BGSUfalcons.com. Shortly after broadcasts are complete, an archived stream is available to listen to as well.
• BGSU men's basketball coach Louis Orr will talk live on 1470 WLQR "The Ticket" throughout the year. He is scheduled to be on host Norm Wamer's show Tuesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. to discuss the season.
• Live statistics for all BGSU home men's basketball games are available on the web via Gametracker. Gametracker allows fans to view in-game stats as they occur, and may be accessed by going to www.BGSUFalcons.com. Falcon fans can utilize Gametracker for home events in numerous BGSU sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, hockey, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball.
